Fung Wah Barred From Operating Bus Service Out Of South Station

BOSTON (CBS) – Fung Wah buses will no longer be able to operate out of South Station.

The MBTA revoked the Fung Wah bus company’s right to operate out of South Station after safety violations were found in 21 of its 28 bus fleet.

On Tuesday, The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued a shutdown order after a WBZ-TV I-Team investigation that found major safety concerns on a number of the company’s buses.

That shutdown order was followed by a letter from Newmark Knight & Frank Global Management, the managing agent for MBTA to Fung Wah noting the safety problems violate the terms of their license with the MBTA.

“Due to the safety issues involved in the suspension of your company’s right to operate a passenger bus service for a substantial portion of your bus fleet, the MBTA insists that your company immediately cease all passenger bus operation from SSBT until further notice,” the letter said.

On Tuesday the bus company temporarily found a way around a federal order to “immediately cease passenger service” by contracting outside charter buses to transport passengers back and forth from South Station to New York City.

There is no word yet on if Fung Wah will move its operation to another location.

Prior to moving into South Station in 2004, officials say Fung Wah was operating on the streets of Boston.

City leaders pushed Fung Wah to go to South Station because of safety concerns.

Right now, there is no law or ordinance that prohibits a bus from operating regular charter service on Boston streets, but city leaders say if that started to happen again they would take action.

Mayor Menino’s Deputy Press Secretary tells WBZ-TV, “The city is monitoring the situation carefully from a public safety standpoint. Certainly the city prefers bus service to operate out of bus terminals, and we will aggressively pursue public safety options if necessary.”